SCRAPE: SKIN-CRAWLING DESCENT INTO THE ABYSS OF HUMAN MALICE
A Walk Through Desolation: “They say the soul can’t be scraped away… but what if they’re wrong?” In the murky realms of the horror genre, where terror and trepidation lie at the core of countless narratives, the 2013 feature “Scrape,” directed by Jason Slade, carves a niche of its own. A spoiler-free synopsis reveals a…
THEATRE OF THE DEAD: CURTAINS UP ON A MACABRE DANCE WITH DEATH
Welcome to the Final Bow: “Theatre of the Dead” “In this theatre, the applause lasts… forever.” Those ominous words set the stage for the 2013 horror flick “Theatre of the Dead,” directed by Patrick J. Gallagher. A seemingly innocuous venue repurposed for a blood-curdling scenario, Gallagher’s film blends the mundanity of a struggling acting troupe’s…
THE DEMON’S ROOK: DESCENDING INTO THE LABYRINTH OF OCCULT HORRORS
A Dance with Darkness: Unearthing “The Demon’s Rook” “Chaos is the same as it has always been,” declares a somber voice in “The Demon’s Rook,” hinting at the timeless terror that awaits. Delving into the arcane corners of horror, the 2013 film directed by James Sizemore (who also stars in the film) presents an ambitious…
THE PACT 2: THE HAUNTING CONTINUES INTO DIMINISHING TERROR
The Ghostly Grip Tightens: The Pact 2 Demands Your Attention In the chilling follow-up to The Pact, “The Pact 2,” directed by Dallas Richard Hallam and Patrick Horvath, picks up the haunted narrative where its predecessor left off. Released in 2014, this horror sequel promises to tug at the fragile threads of peace that remained…
CARVER: SLICING THROUGH THE HEART OF RURAL HORROR’S DARK CORE
A Cut Above the Rest or a Dull Blade? Within the world of independent horror flicks, Carver (2014), directed by Franklin Guerrero Jr., slices into the scene hoping to leave its mark. A chilling foray into the backwoods slasher sub-genre, Carver recounts the harrowing ordeal of a group of friends who choose the wrong day…
THE DEVIL’S HAND: CLUTCHING AT THE STRAWS OF CULT HORROR CONVENTIONS
A Whisper Among the Chant: Unveiling ‘The Devil’s Hand’ “We must never fear the coming of the Devil, for he is already among us.” These chilling words set the stage for the 2014 horror film The Devil’s Hand. Directed by Christian E. Christiansen, this atmospheric flick invites viewers into the cloistered world of a devout…
THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN: ECHOES OF TERROR IN THE TWILIGHT SHADOWS
Revisiting a Nightmare: The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014) In the shadows of the silver screen, the 2014 film The Town That Dreaded Sundown resurrects a chilling tale rooted in true crime and urban legend. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, the movie is a meta-sequel to the 1976 horror classic of the same name, interweaving its…
THE BABADOOK: DESCENDING INTO THE SHADOWS OF MATERNAL MONSTROSITY
Whispers from the Dark: Unveiling The Babadook “If it’s in a word or it’s in a look, you can’t get rid of the Babadook.” This chilling line echoes throughout Jennifer Kent’s 2014 psychological horror masterpiece, ‘The Babadook.’ The film explores the dark and twisted tale of a troubled widow, Amelia (Essie Davis), and her young…
THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT: DESCENDING INTO THE LABYRINTH OF HAUNT CULTURE’S DARKEST CORNERS
Unearthing Fear: “The Houses October Built” “Everybody’s looking for a good scare…” This foreboding line from The Houses October Built succinct forays into the chilling quest that unravels in this 2014 found-footage horror film. Directed by Bobby Roe, who also stars alongside Zack Andrews, it unfolds the tale of five friends in their pursuit of…
THE STRAIN: INFECTING THE VEINS OF HORROR WITH A VIRULENT VAMPIRIC VISION
Unearthing “The Strain”: A Viral Nightmare “Love is going to save us… but not tonight.” This chilling line from the television series “The Strain” encapsulates the haunting duality of a narrative that merges the terror of a parasitic outbreak with the deeply human struggle against encroaching darkness. Directed by various talents including Guillermo del Toro…